(Editor’s Note: Today’s post is brought to you by our friends at Kronos, the global leader in delivering workforce management solutions in the cloud. Did you know that Kronos has seven blogs?! Yes, lots of information sharing from the Kronos community. Be sure to check out two of my faves – The Workforce Institute and Working Smarter Café.)
When we make a mistake, it’s so easy to say “Just admit it and fix it”. The reality is … it’s hard.
Managers feel tremendous pressure to always be right. I think it stems from companies who tell employees that they’re being promoted because of how smart they are and how much experience they have. Versus saying to someone “We’ve been impressed with your work. We like the way you think. And we believe you can help us move the company forward.” The first way just adds to the pressure. You know that old saying “That’s why you’re paid the big bucks.”
Truth is … we make mistakes all the time. And sometimes we’re afraid to admit it. Because we think someone might take those “big bucks” away from us.
Today’s Time Well Spent cartoon from Kronos reminds us that good leaders not only admit their mistakes, but they fix them too.
It’s okay to admit a mistake. Then fix the situation.
0
josh says
It all comes down to ego.
Jennifer V. Miller says
Sharlyn,
A great reminder for leaders everywhere. In addition to the reasons you mention, I think another reason leaders hesitate to admit errors is that many people equate leaders with “authority” and there is a social construct that says people in authority aren’t to be questioned. Of course, this dynamic is changing in the workplace, but there are still many vestiges of this mindset out there.
Alex says
And then again, EVERY single leader I’ve ever met, be it at work or in life, will always admit to having made mistakes. Problem is, some mistakes are far more costly than others
NTC says
I think leaders have a tough time saying sorry because they don’t want to appear vulnerable to their subordinates or colleagues. I respect a supervisor who can admit their mistake and move past it more than someone who makes excuses and blame others. A good leader is humble, honest, confident, and has the ability to inspire. No one is perfect we all make mistakes but what’s important is the lesson we learn and how we react.
Sharlyn Lauby says
Thanks so much for the comments. I agree that authority and ego can play a factor. Alex brings up a good point about cost. Does the cost of a mistake – whether it’s in actual dollars and cents or intangibles – make someone more or less willing to admit error?
Dave says
What struck me about this posting is reflecting back on times when others have apologized to me and vice versa. In the moment of an argument or heated debate the apology (many times) takes the air out of the balloon. It is a moment of vulnerability when one person says “you were right and I was wrong”. I feel many times this ends the argument and allows the person to move forward with a mutual sense of trust.
Obviously there are, sometimes, deeper issues at play but I completely agree with the power of humility from a leader.
Alex says
I think that yes, Sharlyn, the cost of a mistake is the biggest reason why no one will own up to it (at least at first)
Sharlyn Lauby says
Thanks so much for the comments!
leadership says
The leader must be alert to the dangers both of an individual’s exploiting the group and of the group’s exploiting an individual. A problem inherent in group activity is that of how much freedom of expression and action the individual members should be allowed. the quality of the group’s leadership largely determines whether the rules are aimed chiefly at establishing an orderly situation or at limiting the individual members.